Maghull and Formby students take part in work experience at MP B

Young people from throughout Sefton have returned to school this week after spending a fortnight in the world of work - including at MP Bill Esterson's office.

Shaun Johnson from from Deyes High in Maghull and Tom Gay from Range High in Formby both spent their work experience at Bill Esterson's constituency office.

While Tom Roberts and Beth Mellett both from Deyes High spent their two week placement with Simon Peter Photography in Liverpool.

Hundreds of other 15-16 year olds also completed work experience placements at businesses, companies and organisations throughout the region.

The work experience placements are co-ordinated by Sefton Business Enterprise.

After spending two weeks in Bill Esterson's constituency office, Tom Gay said he found the whole experience very rewarding.

He said: "I’ve had a good experience. There has been some hard work, but the knowledge of the usefulness of what I’m doing made it enjoyable. It has really given me the drive to get a job in this area of work."

Shaun Johnson, who also spent two weeks in the MP's office, said he had been able to get involved in a whole range of activities while on placement.

He said: "My work experience placement has been a very interesting and enjoyable one as I have learned about the many roles, jobs and activities that take place in the constituency office of an MP.

"Some of the jobs I was tasked with included activities such as photocopying, printing, filing, shredding, data entry and other general office work. Also I took part in more active areas of the working agenda, such as attending small business conferences.

"One of the best things about work experience was being able to meet an actual MP and talk with him about his job and his duties."

Bill said Tom and Shaun had been a real asset to his team.

Bill said: "An MP's office can get very busy.

We have lots of contact with people from throughout the constituency who are in need of help for a whole range of issues, there's thousands of emails and phone calls a week, there's endless meetings both in the constituency and in Parliament and there's making sure that I continually communicate with people in Sefton Central.

"I was extremely impressed by both Tom and Shaun, they were a major help in the office and I have no doubt they will both go very far in what every field they go into after school."